Wednesday, January 19, 2011

She's number two in the charts, tells fans to 'Do It Like A Dude' and likes Nicki Minaj style clothing... but who is Jessie J?


She has slammed the X Factor, is 'bored' with up-and-coming rap artists and will pick up the Critics' Choice at next month's Brit Awards.

But who is Jessie J, whose debut single Do It Like A Dude is currently riding high at number two on the UK Singles Chart?

One thing's for sure, despite her explicit lyrics and outrageous dress sense, parents will be delighted to know that Jessie is a clean-living pop star who doesn't drink, smoke or take drugs.

The next big thing: Jessie J, currently number two on the UK Singles Charts, wowed the crowd at London's Scala this week with her showcase gig

The next big thing: Jessie J, currently number two on the UK Singles Charts, wowed the crowd at London's Scala this week with her showcase gig

Jessie 'just says no' because not only did she have a stroke at the tender age of 18 but has suffered from an irregular heartbeat since she was born.

That hasn't stopped her enthusiastic and energetic performances though and it was a sell-out crowd that greeted the grime-R&B-pop star as she played a showcase at the Scala in London earlier this week.

Jessie, born Jessica Cornish in Redbridge, east London, wowed the 1,000-strong crowd - which included Brits nominee and last year's Critics' Choice winner Ellie Goulding and her Radio 1 DJ boyfriend Greg James - with a selection of songs and witty banter.

And the young brunette, who oozed confidence and sex appeal on stage, insisted to those that would listen that she is just 'a normal' girl.

Riding high: Jessie belts out her hit single - which she originally wrote for Rihanna

Riding high: Jessie belts out her hit single - which she originally wrote for Rihanna

Despite some criticism that her early accolades - she also won the BBC’s influential Sound of 2011 poll - may be premature, reviewers and musos alike agree that this is one new chart act that is destined for big things.

She studied at the Brit School from the age of 16 and later found success as a songwriter for some of the industry's biggest names, including Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake - who said she was 'the the best singer in the world right now' - Miley Cyrus and Christina Aguilera.

She also wrote her current single, Do It Like A Dude, for Rihanna but decided to release it herself and it debuted at number 25 in the charts.

Fans: Singer Ellie Gouding and Radio 1 DJ boyfriend Greg James arrive at Jessie's gig

Fans: Singer Ellie Gouding and Radio 1 DJ boyfriend Greg James arrive at Jessie's gig

Her debut album, Who You Are, is due to be released in 2011 and has a possible duet with Nicki Minaj in the pipeline.

Nicki touched down in London this morning and last week, Jessie revealed on Twitter that she would be meeting up with her.

She praised X Factor star Cher Lloyd and said, 'When I was 17, if I had half the confidence Cher had... I wish her all the success', but added that she thought the X Factor was just a fast-track to fame.

And she also said she wants to hear more inspirational lyrics from up-and-coming rappers and said: 'I'm bored of hearing about how sick they are and there gonna 'f*** up the game. I would rather here life stories and inspirational bars.'

BRITS winner: Jessie posed at this year's nominations for the awards where she will be awarded Critics Choice gong at the ceremony next month
BRITS winner: Jessie posed at this year's nominations for the awards where she will be awarded Critics Choice gong at the ceremony next month

BRITS winner: Jessie posed at this year's nominations for the awards where she will be awarded Critics Choice gong at the ceremony next month

David Smyth from the Evening Standard caught her showcase gig on Monday and said: 'If anyone can charm their way on to the iPods of the masses regardless, it is her.'

And Caroline Sullivan from the Guardian said Britain needed 'a singer with the talent and presence to rival Perry and Gaga' and that Jessie's 'powerful voice and infernally catchy pop/R&B songs make her an undeniable contender.'

Dressed from head-to-toe in Vivienne Westwood, she treated the crowd to some of her upcoming tunes - incuding Big White Room, Who's Laughing Now? And LOVE, which she wrote for Alicia Keys.

And she left her audience begging for more, making her one of the ones to watch in 2011.

No comments:

Post a Comment

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...